Holder for collapsible tubes



June 23, 1931. WOLF HOLDER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Jan. 18. 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 1' June23, 1931. F WOLF 1,811,220

' HOLDER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Jan. 18, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2NTV/ENTQRT v I Z ATTORNEY.

Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES FRANK VJOLF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HOLDER FQR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Application filed January 18,1928. SerialNo. 247,501.

This invention relates to improvements in holders for collapsible tubes,and has particular reference to such devices which will be portable andcapable of supporting collapsible tubes in upright position andaccessible for manual extrusion of the contents.

An important object of the invention in its broader aspects, is toprovide a tube holder which will support the tube by virtue of aclamping action upon a relatively narrow portion thereof and preferablyadjacent its outlet end.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device with noveland simplified means for effecting the clamping relation.

Another object is to provide a tube holder of the above mentionedcharacter with a service cover which may readilyjbe applied to orremoved from the stand With the foregoing and other objects andadvantages in View, the invention resides in the novel details ofconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter setforth, shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings andspecifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views- Figure 1 is a frontelevation of one form of tube holder embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof with the parts in tube clampingpositionand with the service cover disposed in its opened posi{ tion,Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but showing the tube clamping meansunlocked,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional View on line llofFig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional View on line 55 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is atop plan view with the parts in the positions shown in Fig.3, I

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig; 2, i

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a modified form of tube holding stand,

Fig. 9 is a side elevation thereof,-

V Fig. 10 is another side elevation, showing the parts in unlockedposition,

Fig. 11 is a vertical transverse s ctional view on line 11-11 of n ig.9,

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view on line 12--12 of Fig. 9,and IFig. 13 is a vertical transverse sectional 53' View on line 1313 of Fig.10.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive,is in the nature of a stand which is formed from a pair of relativelymovable members 10 and 1e 11, each of which may be conveniently formedfrom sheet metal or the like and adapted to firmly clamp and support thecollapsible tube 12. The member 10 comprises a pair of upwardlyextending side portions 13, which are spaced apart and adapted to bedisposed at opposite sides of the tube 12; said portions havinglaterally off set curved gripping members 14, which are adapted tojointly embrace the upper portion of the tube 12. The lower endsof saidside portions 13- are fiaredoutwardly, as indicated at 15 andconnectedtogether by a transverse strip 16, which may preferably beintegral with the side members, and which in combination with the flaredpore tions 15, comprise a supporting base for the device. The member 11is similarlyformed with spaced side portions 17, the lower ends of whichare disposed in substantially the same planes as the side members 13,while their upper ends are deflected out of said plane, whereby to becapable of relative movement over the same, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.Gripping members 18, similar in 95 all respects tothe members l, arecarried by the upper extremities "of said side 1neni bore 17, whiletheir lowerends are flared as at and connected together by atransversestrip 21 in a manner similar to the base portions 15 and 16 of themember 1 0. In; termediate their ends, said side portions 13 and 17 areprovided with semi-circular extensions 22 and 23 which overlap and areformed withaligned openings to accommodate pivot pins 24 about the axisof which the members-10 and 11 are adapted to be moved. i

The opposing edges of the flared portions 15 and 20 are providedwithnotches 25 and run 26 respectively, which cooperate to form openingsin the stand for the reception of the outer ends of the base strip 27 ofthe tube 12, and preferably, in such a manner as to engage the same witha clamping pres sure. Preferably, the longitudinal edges of the sideportions 13 and 17 are tapered such a manner as to converge upwardly, asindicated at 28 and 29, and slidable actuating means 30 are mounted uponsaid members for the purpose of selectively locking .2 clampingpositions.

or unlocking the parts with reference to the tube. The body of saidactuating means 30 may be conveniently formed of sheet material whichextends transversely across the outer faces of said portions 13 and 17and having its opposite ends reversely bent, as indicated at 31 and 32to straddle the tapered edges 28 and 29 and to engage the inner surfacesof said portions 13 and 17. Preferably, curved finger pieces 33 aresocured to the actuating means 30 in such a manner as to facilitatetheir ,manipulation.

In order to secure the collapsible tube within the novel holder abovedescribed, it

is only necessary to relatively move the members and 11to the positionsshown in Fig. 3, whereupon the tube 12 can easily be inserted in anendwise relation upwardly through the base thereof, after which theactuating means can be moved downwardly, causing the gripping members,14 and v 18 309 engagethe upper portions of the tube walls immediatelybelow the outlet end thereof, and at the same time to engage the basestrip'27 within the cooperating notches 25 and 26. The gripping members14 and 18 are so proportioned that they will actually deflect theengaged portions of the tube wall in such a manner as to form groovestherein, as indicated at 34, and by virtueof this arrangement, it willbe evident that the tube will be firmly held and incapable of accidentaldisplacement from the holder.

An annular frame member 35 is provided for the upper end of theholder;said frame member being suitably formed With a ,central aperture36, through which thethreaded neck 37 of the tube is adapted to extend,

and being further characterized by a depending rim or skirt portion 38which encircles the members 14 and 18 and frictions ally engages them insuch a manner as to assist in maintaining them in their tube Carried bysaid frame member or head 35, is a closure cap 39, which is preferablypivoted as at 40 and adapted to overlie the threaded extremity .37 ofthe tube, whereby to cover the same. A suitable spring 41 may preferablybe provided to engage a projection 42 on the outer side of the cover 39in such a manner as to securely hold the said cover in closed position.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that a novel holder for acollapsible tube has been provided in the nature of a portable stand,which firmly grips the tube and maintains it in position for easy use.Incidentally, the service cover 39 does away with the necessity forusing the inconvenient screw threaded cap with which such tubes areprovided by the manufacturers. The material from which the parts aremade can be nickel plated, enameled, or otherwise finished, wherebytoenhance the appearance of the device, and all of these features takentogether constitute a substantial advance in the art.

A modified form of the invention has been shown in Figs. 8 to 13inclusive, wherein the tube supporting stand is formed from rod stock asdistinguished from sheet material. Such a stand comprises a pair ofspaced upright members .45 and 46 at each side of the device; saidmembers being connected together adjacent their upper ends.

by a loop 47, and being provided attheir lower ends with off setportions ,48 and 49 extending in opposite directions and iconstituting abase for the stand, The loop 47 provides suitable resiliency, ,wherebythe upright members .45 and 46 are capable of relative movement towardand away from each other, and such movement is controlled by a slide.48, which is similar .in structure and function to the actuating member30, described in the first embodiment. Secured to the upper sides of theloops 47 are a pair of spring arms 50, the upper ends of which aresuitably curved to constitute tube gripping members 51. Furthermore, thestructure may be reinforced by means of a ring 52, which isrigidlysecured to the loops 47 and the spring arms 50 in sucha manner as tomaintain said loops in proper spacing with .respect .to each other. Theresiliency of the arms 50 and gripping .members 51 is such that as.thetube 12 is inserted with the parts shown in the positions of Fig.10, the upper end of said tube will be automatically engaged by saidgripping .members 51, and thereafter, the slides 48 can be moveddownwardly to effect the clamping engagement of the members 45 and .46on the opposite sides. of the bottom strip 27 vof the tube.

YVhile the tube will be properly supported in an upright position by thestand just described, it is preferable to employ kt-he frame member 35and closure cap 39; said frame member being disposed upon .the upper endof the stand and frictionally engaging the tube clamping members 51 in amanner similar .to its coactien with the members 14 and 18 of thefirstenI-bodiment. Furthermore, it will be evident that said framemember 35 and its associated service o r m y be so f rm d a {to :fi ctan gl y engage upon the outer surface vof the tube,

irrespective of whether the tube is mounted in a supporting stand ornot.

The head with the cover 35 thereon can of course, be used without thestand if desired. The invention is susceptible of numerous furthermodifications in the details of construction and arrangement of parts,and the right is therefore reserved to make such charges as fall withinthe scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a holder forcollapsible tubes, a stand having upright members movable toward andaway from each other, said upright members being adapted to engage thelaterally projecting end portions of the tube base, means at the upperend of the stand for clamping a relatively narrow portion of the tubeadjacent its outlet end, and means slidable on said upright members forlocking the same in clamping position with reference to the tube.

2.111 a holder for collapsible tubes, a stand having upright membersmovable toward and away from each other, said upright members beingadapted to engage the laterally projecting end portions of the tubebase, means at the upper end of the stand for clamping a relatively narow portion of the tube adjacent its outlet end, means slidable on saidupright members for locking the same in clamping position with referenceto the tube, and a closure for the top of the tube adapted to embraceand reinforce said clamping means.

3. In a holder for col apsible tubes, a

stand having upright members movable toward and away from each other,said upright members being adapted to engage the laterally projectingend portions of the tube base, means at-the upper end of the stand forembracing and clamping a relatively narrow portion of the tube adjacentits outlet end, and means slidable on said upright memberslongitudinally thereof from one position to another to have a clampingaction thereon for locking the same in clamping position with referenceto thetube.

4. In a holder for collapsible tubes, a stand having upright membersmovable toward and away from each other, said upright members beingadapted to engage the laterally projecting end portions of the tubebase, means at the upper end of the stand for embracing and clamping arelatively narrow portion of the tube adjacent its outlet end, meansslidable on said upright members longitudinally thereof from oneposition to another to have a clamping action thereon for locking thesame in clamping position with reference to the tube, and an annularmember encircling and frictionally engaging said tube clamping means tohold the same 'ainst accidental displacement.

5. In a holder for collapsible tu es, a stand havin upright membersmovable to ward and away from each other, said upri 'ht members beingadapted to engage-the laterally projecting end portions of the tubebase, means at the upper end of the stand for embracing and clamping arelatively narrow portion of the tube adjacent its outlet end, meansslidable on said upright members longitudinally thereof from one position to another to have a clamping action thereon for locking the samein clamping position with reference to the tube, an'an nular'member.encircling and frictionally engaging said tube clamping means to holdthe same against. accidental displacement, and a servicecover hingedlymounted on said annular member and adapted to form a closure for theoutlet end of the tube.

6. In a holder for collapsible tubes, the

combination of connected stand members movable from open to closedposition, means at the up )6? ends of the members adapted,in the closedposition thereof, to embrace and clamp the tube adjacent its outlet end,to thereby support the tube with its outlet end uppermost, an annularmember for holding said embracing and clamping means against accidentaldisplacement, and a service cover for the outlet end of the tubeconnected to said annular member.

7. In a holder for collapsible tubes, the combination of connected standmembers movable from open to closed position, means at the upper ends ofthe members adapted, in the closed position thereof, to embrace andclamp the tube adjacent its outlet end, whereby to support the tubependant from the upper ends of the members and with its outlet enduppermost, an annular frame member for engaging-said embracing andclamping means to retain the same against displacement, and a servicecover hinged to said frame member and adapted to selectively cover oruncover the outlet end of the tube.

8. In a holder for collapsible tubes, the combination of connected standmembers movable from open to closed position, arms on the upper ends ofthe members adapted, in the closed position thereof, to embrace andclamp the tube adjacent its outlet end, whereby to support the tubependant from. the upper ends of the members and with its outlet enduppermost, an annular frame member for engaging over said arms tomaintain them in clamping relation, and a service cover pivotallymounted on said frame member.

9. A holder for collapsible tubes comprising relatively movable memberseach of which comprises longitudinally extending side portions, the sideportions'of one memher being connected to the side portions of theother, said members supporting parts for gripping the exterior of thetube, and means slidable along the adjacent side portions for securingsaid members in a position of adjustment.

10. A holder for collapsible tubes according to claim 9, in combinationwith a hollow head for the end of the tube, said head having a portionto engage the parts for gripping the exterior of the tube and hold themin operative position.

11. A holder for supporting a collapsible tube having a relatively rigidtop end and a collapsible body joining the top end, the holder beingarranged to support the tube in upright position with its rigid top enduppermost, said holder comprising upright members, and lateral arms onthe top ends of the upright members adapted to press into thecollapsible body at apoint in which said rigid top end will rest uponsaid arms, whereby to support the tube in hanging position through theengagement of said rigid top end over and upon said lateral arms.

12. A holder for a collapsible tube having a relatively rigid top endand a collapsible body joining the top end, the holder being arranged tosupport the tube in upright posi tion with its rigid top end uppermost,said holder comprising upright members, and lateral arms on the top endsof the upright members adapted to press into the c0llapsible bodyimmediately adjoining the said relatively rigid top end so as to engageunderneath said rigid top end, whereby to afford a support for the tubethrough the engagement of said rigid top end upon said lateral arms, anda closure for the top end of the tube adapted to embrace and reinforcesaid lateral arms.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name hereto.

FRANK WOLF.

